Ford · Sportka · Rear
Ford Sportka rear tyre pressure
- Drivetrain
- front-wheel drive
- Body
- passenger car
- PSI F / R
- 32-35 / 32-35
- Bar F / R
- 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4
psi rear
34
2.31 bar · 231 kPa at the rear axle
32-35 psi F · 32-35 psi R · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar · 231/231 kPa
Loaded Sportka rears often need the sticker’s second column, not a copy of the front 32-35 psi figure. Under-inflation cooks the shoulders of a Sportka; over-inflation wears the centre rib and bangs every cat’s eye.
Ford Sportka placard versus sidewall
Sidewall PSI is a carcass maximum. Recommended operating pressure for this Sportka is the pillar sticker, near 34/34 psi.
Estimated pressure by tyre size (215/55R16 and others)
If your Ford Sportka no longer wears the OEM diameter, start at the row nearest 215/55R16 or 225/40R18 and confirm with the tyre maker’s load table.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 215/55R16 | — | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | Slightly wider 16-inch |
| 225/40R18 | — | 36 | — | 2.48 | — | 248 | Low-profile 18-inch |
| 195/65R15 | — | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | Very common compact |
| 225/50R17 | — | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | Touring 17-inch |
| 185/65R15 | — | 33 | — | 2.28 | — | 228 | Small / older car |
| 245/40R18 | — | 36 | — | 2.48 | — | 248 | Wide touring 18-inch |
| 205/55R16 | — | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | Typical mid-compact OEM |
| 225/45R17 | — | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | Sport 17-inch |
Pressure against load
Load moves the rear of a passenger car first. If the factory placard already has a “laden” column, use that instead of these sketches.
| Condition | Front (est.) | Rear (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver only | 34 psi / 2.34 bar | 34 psi / 2.34 bar |
| Full occupancy | 34 psi / 2.34 bar | 35 psi / 2.41 bar |
| Motorway + luggage | 35 psi / 2.41 bar | 38 psi / 2.62 bar |
A family passenger car with a boot full of luggage should use the laden rear figure if Ford, VW or Mercedes printed one. Otherwise the modest steps in the load table are only a sketch for this Sportka.
How to set the Sportka
- Measure before the school run, not after the M25.
- Write LF / RF / RR / RL. Do not keep Sportka numbers in your head.
- Add air in short bursts toward 34 psi (2.31 bar) front and 34 psi rear.
- If one corner is 4 psi down, hunt for a nail before you blame the weather.
- Log date, ambient temperature and the four readings.
PSI, bar and kPa
PSI-led conversions for the Ford Sportka band (32-35 / 32-35).
| PSI | Bar | kPa |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 2.07 | 207 |
| 32 | 2.21 | 221 |
| 33 | 2.28 | 228 |
| 33.5 | 2.31 | 231 |
| 35 | 2.41 | 241 |
| 36 | 2.48 | 248 |
| 38 | 2.62 | 262 |
| 40 | 2.76 | 276 |
| 44 | 3.03 | 303 |
| 50 | 3.45 | 345 |
| 60 | 4.14 | 414 |
Temperature drift
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this Sportka.
| Ambient | Gauge (front mid) | Bar | kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −5 °C (hard frost) | 31 psi | 2.14 bar | 214 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 0 °C | 32 psi | 2.21 bar | 221 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 8 °C (UK winter morning) | 33 psi | 2.28 bar | 228 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 20 °C (set cold here) | 34 psi | 2.34 bar | 234 kPa | Baseline |
| 30 °C | 36 psi | 2.48 bar | 248 kPa | Do not bleed a hot tyre |
| 38 °C (heatwave tarmac) | 37 psi | 2.55 bar | 255 kPa | Do not bleed a hot tyre |
Ford notes
Ford UK placards on the Sportka are often printed in PSI even when the handbook also shows bar. A Mondeo, Focus or Kuga does not share a Transit number. Loaded vans use the second column.
Spare and inflator kit
A matching full-size spare on the Ford Sportka usually follows the higher axle (often the rear, near 32-35 psi). A space-saver is commonly 60 psi / 4.1 bar — read that tyre’s own sidewall. An inflator kit is not a spare; check the sealant date.
If the Ford sticker and this page disagree, the sticker wins.
Other Ford models
Questions about this Sportka
What is that in bar and kPa for the Sportka?
Mid-points are about 2.31 bar (231 kPa) front and 2.31 bar (231 kPa) rear.
What tyre pressure should a Ford Sportka use?
Catalogue reference is 32-35 psi front and 32-35 psi rear (2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar), cold. Confirm on the door-pillar placard.
What PSI if I plus-size toward 195/65R15?
Keep load index at or above OEM. Low-profile sizes usually stay at or slightly above the placard. Use 215/55R16, 225/40R18 and 195/65R15 as a planning band.
Is the sidewall number correct on a Ford Sportka?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The Sportka placard is the operating target, near 32-35/32-35 psi.
Front versus rear on the Ford Sportka?
This row is 32-35 F / 32-35 R. Even when they match, a laden rear can justify a higher number if the sticker prints one.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation